Man from Snowy River producer Geoff Burrowes sells Mt Skene Estate
215 Powers Rd, Merrijig, has sold.
Filmmaker Geoff Burrowes, best known for this work on The Man from Snowy River, has sold Merrijig’s prized Mt Skene Estate.
Buyers from across Australia and the world – including Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, the Middle East, the US, South East Asia, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia – along with local parties expressed interest in the 222.58ha estate in Victoria’s high country.
Abercromby’s Jock Langley could not reveal the figure achieved by 215 Powers Rd. But the Herald Sun understands it well and truly surpassed the $15,000-an-acre suggested price, which equates to about $7.5m.
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Sellers Geoff and Kerri Burrowes transformed the property into “something amazing”.
How’s the view from the rumpus room?
“The inquiry was enormous,” Mr Langley said.
“It had 10,000 views about a week out from the close of the campaign, on realestate.com.au. And we had some very high-profile names look at it, who I won’t divulge, but they were from all different industries.
“It exceeded expectations.”
Mr Langley also had few details to share when it came to the buyer’s identity and their plans for the property, noting the private party used an representative during the sale process.
Inquiry for Mt Skene Estate was huge.
A nice distraction from washing dishes.
“There were a multitude of things one could do with it,” he said.
“A lot of people recognised its potential from a tourism point of view, as a farming enterprise, or as a lifestyle property. There are so many different pursuits you can enjoy nearby – bushwalking, fly fishing in the streams, or skiing in the winter.
“It’s a lovely place to go in all seasons – it captivates your attention. It’s Australia’s best high country area, in my view.”
Burrowes and his wife, Kerri, bought the acclaimed rural holding from grazier Simon Doble in 1985 – after The Man from Snowy River, which he produced, had enjoyed the biggest commercial success to date in Australian cinemas.
A charming bedroom.
Kick back in this glorious garden setting.
He also appeared as a rider in the 1982 film starring Kirk Douglas, Sigrid Thornton and Tom Burlinson – part of which was filmed in Merrijig.
Burrowes wrote, produced and directed its sequel: Return to Snowy River (The Man from Snowy River II), and was involved in TV mini series Anzacs, too.
Mr Langley previously told the Herald Sun Burrowes and his wife had made Mt Skene Estate their own, transforming what had been a largely blank canvas into “something amazing”.
“Both of them are really creative people and what they have established is unique,” the agent said.
The estate sprawls across more than 222ha.
Parts of The Man from Snowy River were filmed in Merrijig.
The property’s five-bedroom main house offers two living spaces, both with fireplaces, either side of an open-plan kitchen and dining area.
Other highlights include a large main bedroom with an ensuite, a walk-in wardrobe and a private stretch of veranda, and an eye-catching staircase with a study and sitting room at the top.
Mature gardens, a cottage, a cool room, water supplies from both a dam and bore, a shearing shed, a tack room, horse boxes and cattle yards complete the landholding.
Views to Mt Buller and Mt Timbertop were another selling point for the estate, which is close to Mansfield and within a 2.5-hour drive of Melbourne Airport.
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